Don’t get me wrong, NECC is great this year. But he highlight of my week was an e-mail I got from one of my former students who has a novel coming out this fall. Seems I played a small role in saving her from a dreary life as an investment banker and helped nudge her toward a professional writing career. (Financially, of course, this was a dreadful mistake.) Absolutely gave me a warm fuzzy, and made me, just for a few minutes at least, long for the classroom and the kookiness and creativity and angst of teenagers. Diane was a great one.
And the best part? She’s got a blog, too.
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Congrats on the student novelist from a NECC attendee and former English teacher. Now the important part. Did she give you a free copy?
I love it when previous students do so well. I went this spring to a college graduation where a previous student graduated. What was, and is, remarkable to me is that he was a terrible student. I never thought he would get accepted, much less graduate, from college. He did, with a 3.2!
I recently saw a former student while out shopping for a laptop. He happened to be working at this particular electronics establishment, and took a few minutes to tell me how he was doing, and that he really appreciated my efforts, and that he felt bad for any of the “difficult” moments that might have arisen in class due to his lack of cordiality.
I told him all was good, and that it seemed he had matured, and that I wished him the best.
He also told me I was one of two teachers he really benefited from.
We influence even those whom we feel we haven’t.
Congratulations Will on the things tht really matter. I was listening to a podcast today and they were bemoaning a bit about the position of educators. A lawyer was spouting off about his/her income and he asked the teacher what he / she made. The teacher responded, “I make a difference”. Kudos to you.
The warm fuzzy… that is what teaching is all about.